Last updated: 18th August 2025
Zen Library, available at https://zenlibrary.org, is owned and operated by Black and White Trading Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data with transparency and care. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights under UK data protection law (UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018).
Who We Are
Zen Library is an online platform offering access to reprinted historical Zen texts, articles, and resources, alongside a store providing downloadable products, print-on-demand goods, and links to third-party suppliers such as Amazon.
Website address: https://zenlibrary.org
Company: Black and White Trading Ltd
Registered Office: 23 Templemere,Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 9PA
Contact: Use the form here.
Information We Collect
We collect personal data in the following ways:
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Comments: When visitors leave comments, we collect the data shown in the comment form, IP address, and browser user agent string for spam detection.
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Store transactions (WooCommerce): When you purchase products, we collect your name, billing/shipping address, email, payment details (processed securely via third-party payment providers), and order history.
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Print-on-Demand (Printful): Orders fulfilled by Printful require us to share your name, address, and order details with Printful to complete fulfilment.
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Affiliate links (e.g. Amazon): If you click on affiliate links, third-party sites may use cookies or tracking technologies. We do not control their data practices; please review their privacy policies.
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Newsletter subscriptions: If you sign up to our free newsletter, we collect your name and email address. This is managed via a third-party email provider (e.g. Mailchimp or similar).
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Site registration: If you create an account, we store your profile information. You may view, edit, or delete this at any time (except username).
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Uploaded media: If you upload images, you should avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors can download and extract this data.
Cookies
We use cookies to:
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Enable basic site functionality (login sessions, shopping cart).
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Improve performance and user experience.
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Track affiliate links and analytics.
You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Note: disabling cookies may limit site functionality.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles may include embedded content (e.g. videos, articles, images). Embedded content behaves as if you visited the other website directly. These third-party sites may collect data, use cookies, and monitor your interaction.
Who We Share Your Data With
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Payment providers (e.g. PayPal, Stripe): For secure payment processing.
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Printful: For fulfilment of print-on-demand orders.
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Email newsletter provider: For managing opt-ins and email delivery.
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Spam detection services: Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam service.
We do not sell your personal data.
How Long We Retain Your Data
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Comments and their metadata: retained indefinitely.
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Registered user accounts: stored until you request deletion.
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Order records: retained for as long as required for tax and accounting (typically 6 years under UK law).
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Newsletter data: retained until you unsubscribe.
Your Rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
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Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
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Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
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Request deletion of your data, subject to legal obligations.
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Object to processing or restrict processing in certain cases.
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Withdraw consent for newsletter emails at any time (via unsubscribe link).
To exercise your rights, contact us at [insert contact email].
Where Your Data is Sent
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Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
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Order data may be shared with third-party fulfillment and payment providers outside the UK/EU, but only where adequate safeguards are in place.
Third-Party Resources & Disclaimer
Zen Library republishes historical Zen texts and links to external resources. These are provided for informational purposes only. We do not control third-party websites or services, and their privacy policies may differ. Please review their terms when visiting external sites.
Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information. However, no system is completely secure, and transmission over the internet is at your own risk.
Contact
For questions about this policy or your data rights, please contact:
Black and White Trading Ltd
23 Templemere, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 9PA
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): https://ico.org.uk.
